EP1598277A2 - Fed through sealing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus seals the edges of plastic bags containing sterile goods. The apparatus has a fusing or welding tool arranged in the path through the apparatus for detecting and welding the edge of each bag as it passes through. A printing unit near the end of the path through the apparatus prints the sealed edges. The printing unit is formed of a programmable thermal printing head. This is guided by a thermal transfer color band which moves parallel to and directly above the path through the apparatus. The color band or ribbon is guided by winder spools which are also arranged above the path. The print head is arranged between these spools to cooperate with the ink or color ribbon. A seal edge sensor is arranged in the transfer path (2) before the print head. The edge sensor is in control operative connection with the print head and the ribbon drive.

Description

The invention relates to a continuous sealing device for welding the opening edges of filled with sterile goods packaging bags made of weldable plastic film, consisting from a arranged in a flow guide of the device Welding tool for detecting and welding the opening edges each passing bag and one in the end arranged the flow guide of the device housing Printing unit for printing on the sealed opening edges.

Continuous sealing devices are, for example, according to DE-A-296 10 976 U1 known and provided such devices, as stated in the introduction, with a printer according to DE-A-200 19 799 U1, is these printers are associated with such printers special continuous sealing devices, where known, exclusively to so-called dot-matrix printing. In such continuous sealing devices are so far in this respect so-called Semi-automatic machines, as doing the filled and to be sealed Bag applied by hand in the laterally open flow guide and be pushed in, then under passage one Foil preheating of the further transport by means of two endless transport between two sealing rolls, which are the two Seal adjacent opening edges of a bag together. This is followed by the printing of the sealing edge, for example. with content-specific data, by means of the in the end the flow guide in the device housing arranged with Dot-matrix printer. Under content-specific data are eg. to understand the sterilization date, expiration date, lot number, so-called BAR codes and the like. Data.

Such Durchlaufsiegelgeräte have in terms of Printing the bag seal edges proved to be improvable that is, the flow-seal device should be more controllable produce better print image, variable font sizes and if desired also the pressure transfer of graphical representations allow.

This object is to sealing devices of the type mentioned solved according to the invention in that the printing unit from a Programmable thermal printhead and this one over parallel to and guided directly above the passage guide Thermal transfer ribbon arranged and this ribbon of also arranged on the pass guide Ab- and casserole coils is guided, between which the thermal print head in Einwirkstellung is arranged to the ribbon, wherein in the Pass guide in front of the thermal printhead with this and the Ribbon drive in controlling operative connection standing seal edge sensor is arranged.

Such, for the so-called thermal transfer printing certain, programmable thermal printer are known, but come, as far as known, in particular for label printing for use, as a separate device, the on a carrier tape with the same distance and supplied labels continuously with each entered Data are printed by thermal loading of the ink ribbon by means of so-called "dots". Such separate thermal transfer printing devices are also equipment of eg. Packing tables for the sterile packaging of interest here by means of the aforementioned continuous sealing devices, although the printed labels after removal from their carrier tape on the seal edges of the sealed packaging bag or whatever must be transmitted.
However, a direct transfer of this thermal transfer printing method, which leads to excellent and long-lasting print results on plastic films, on continuous sealers was contrary to that of these

Devices, as mentioned, are so-called semi-automatic, at which therefore not a uniform continuous supply of is to realize printing sealing edges. Apart from this, was not to be expected without further ado that the Successfully apply thermal transfer printing process leaves, if advantageously avoid label transfer already heated by the sealing process or still relatively warm foil seal edges to be printed.

So under a programmable thermal print head is a Printhead to understand with the on the ribbon on the printer away side, by heat and a certain Pressure transferable color when in pressure contact and by program on the printhead set letters, Numbers or other representations on the sealing edge surface the bag in question is transmitted reproduction accurate. The printhead set to the desired data or its so-called "dots" that can be brought into action individually So forms an easily programmable print medium that under Interposition of the ribbon by Thermostransfer the set Transmits data that, as it were branded, indelibly find their reproduction on the seal edges.

Apart from the simple programming of what is to be printed by means of an input keyboard, while the device with respect to the further transport of the ink ribbon is easy to control in accordance with an incoming in the flow guide sealing edge, which arrival is not evenly spaced, since the bags to be sealed by hand are entered into the sealing device. For this reason, a seal edge sensor is arranged in the flow guide in front of the thermal print head, which is connected via the device control with the transport drive for the thermal ribbon and gegf. slightly delayed start the thermal transfer process.
In contrast to the previously practiced thermal transfer printing process, which requires a synchronous operation of Farband, for example. Label tape and synchronous printing process, in a continuous run, it is ensured in the continuous sealing device according to the invention ensures that this synchronicity ensures only for the actual printing on the sealing edge passing just the print head is.

A change to a gegf. desired other ink is to accomplish easily by changing the ribbon. To such a change or even an exchange against to carry out a new ribbon as simply as possible, There is a preferred, particularly advantageous and in detail to be explained in more detail embodiment in that the Coils with their ribbon in the form of a removable cassette are formed, the coil enclosing the cassette parts by a tangent of the coils off and Bounding ribbon leading web are connected in the one Pass-through window for the pressure-active part of the thermal print head is arranged.

With respect to the easy cassette interchangeability is Finally, the device housing in the area of the printer and cartridge assembly provided with a closable access opening and also with an input keyboard for programming.

The sealing device according to the invention is described below with reference to Drawings of exemplary embodiments closer explained.

Fig.1

perspektivisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel des DurchlaufSiegelgerätes;

Fig.2

schematisch einen Längsschnitt durch das Gerät;

Fig.3

perspektivisch eine Ausführungsform der Farbbandkassette und

Fig.4

perspektivisch eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform des Durchlauf-Siegelgerätes.

It shows schematically

Fig.1

in perspective, an embodiment of the continuous sealing device;

Fig.2

schematically a longitudinal section through the device;

Figure 3

perspective view of an embodiment of the ribbon cassette and

Figure 4

in perspective, a preferred embodiment of the continuous sealing device.

The continuous sealer remains as before and in known Way with reference to Fig.1,2 from a in a flow guide 2 of the device arranged welding tool 3 for Detection and welding or sealing of the opening edges R of each passing bag VB and one in the End region of the flow guide 2 of the device housing 1 arranged Printing unit 4 for printing on the sealed opening edges R. The bags to be sealed and printed VB are still applied to the left of the device, from one Transport device TE detected and for sealing and printing transported. For this required heaters and Pressure or sealing rollers are denoted by the reference H and A Mistake.

For such a continuous sealing device is now essential that the printing unit 4 from a programmable thermal printing head 4 ' formed and this over a parallel to and immediately over the pass guide 2 guided thermal transfer ribbon 5 arranged. This ribbon 5 is also on the above Pass-through guide 2 arranged Ab- and Auflaufspulen 6,6 'out, between which the thermal print head 4 'in the action position is arranged to the ribbon 5, wherein in the flow guide second in front of the thermal print head 4 'with this and the ribbon drive (not specifically shown) in controlling operative connection standing seal edge sensor 7 is arranged.

This via device control 12 (see Figure 2) with the ribbon drive interconnected sensor 7 ensures that for the incoming Bag or sealing edge R a fresh, newer Ribbon section is available, which is located at the upstream, connected section as close as possible.

With regard to the fact that on the one hand in the thermal transfer printing process the surface to be printed and the ribbon 5 synchronously go through under the stationary arranged thermal print head 4 ', the tempered and preprogrammed "dots" of the Printhead with the passage speed brought to action and, on the other hand, unlike label printing when sealing the bag different degrees of sealing edges and can be incurred, but always the same, relatively weak contact pressure for color transfer must be complied with, there is an advantageous development in that the thermal print head 4 'with the thermal transfer ribbon 5 distanceable with respect to the plane of the flow guide 2 is arranged in the device housing 1. This distance adjustability moves on the order of only Millimeter fractions up to a few millimeters. This is not particularly illustrated and not especially to explain therefor corresponding constructive possibilities and Items readily available.

Referring to Fig. 3, the coils 6,6 'are with their ribbon 5 in the form of a removable cassette 8, whose the coils 6,6 'enclosing cassette parts 8' by a the tangent of the coils 6,6 'and accumulating ribbon 5 leading web 9 are connected, in which a penetration window 10 for the pressure-active part of the thermal printhead 4 ' is arranged.

To a ribbon change or exchange without complications on To be able to make continuous sealing device is the device housing 1 in the field of printer and cartridge assembly with a provided lockable access opening 11, as shown in Fig.1 indicated by dashed lines.

With regard to the programmable thermal printhead 4 ' the device housing 1 operator side with a programming panel 12 provided, this programming panel 12 by reference on Fig.4 preferably as a separate accessory on the desk-like inclined front surface 13 of the device housing 1 is arranged is that also also on the service side with a display 14 to display the currently programmed print data is provided.

Claims (7)

Continuous sealer for sealing the opening edges (R) of sterile-filled packaging bags (VB) of weldable plastic film, consisting of a in a flow guide (2) of the device arranged welding tool (3) for detecting and welding the opening edges (R) of each passing bag ( VB) and from a in the end region of the flow guide (2) of the device housing (1) arranged printing unit (4) for printing the sealed opening edges (R),
characterized in that the printing unit (4) from a programmable thermal print head (4 ') formed and this over a parallel to and immediately above the pass guide (2) guided thermal transfer ribbon (5) and arranged this ribbon (5) also on the Passing guide (2) arranged Ab- and Auflaufspulen (6,6 ') is guided, between which the thermal print head (4') in Einwirkstellung to the ink ribbon (5) is arranged, wherein in the pass guide (2) in front of the thermal print head (4 ') a sealing edge sensor (7) which is in controllable operative connection with this and the ribbon drive is arranged. Continuous sealing device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the thermal print head (4 ') with the thermal transfer ribbon (5) with respect to the plane of the flow guide (2) is arranged distanzeinstellbar in the device housing (1). Continuous sealing device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the coils (6, 6 ') are formed with their ink ribbon (5) in the form of an exchangeable cassette (8) whose parts (8, 6') surround the coils (6, 6 ') by a tangential one of the cassettes Coils (6,6 ') and emerging ribbon (5) leading web (9) are connected, in which a penetration window (10) for the pressure-active part of the print head (4') is arranged. Continuous sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the device housing (1) is provided in the region of the printer and cartridge assembly with a closable access opening (11). Continuous sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the device housing (1) on the operating side with a programming panel (12) for the thermal print head (4 ') is provided. Continuous sealing device according to claim 5,
characterized in that the programming panel (12) is arranged as a separate accessory on the desk-like inclined front surface (13) of the device housing (1). A continuous sealer according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the device housing (1) is provided on the operating side with a display (14) for displaying the respectively programmed pressure data.

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